‘Twisted Metal’ Season 2 Ending, Explained: Who Wins the Race?

Twisted Metal went dark, twisted, and downright campy with its second season. The season picks up with John Doe (Anthony Mackie) in the settlement with Raven (Neve Campbell in Season 1, now played by Patty Guggenheim). John now knows the truth about Raven’s intentions with him: she needs him to be her driver for Calypso’s (Anthony Carrigan) big tournament to the death. The winner is granted one wish — if anyone survives, that is. John is put through grueling training once he heals from his wounds, including playing hours of car racing video games. While it takes many attempts, he finally escapes.

The Race Becomes a Deadly, Voyeuristic Sport

Peacock

With race day imminent, John escapes with the help of a security guard friend. He is eventually reunited with Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz) and, to his surprise and confusion, his estranged sister Krista a.k.a. Dollface (Tiana Okoye), whom he doesn’t even remember. Now, it’s time to get to work. Quiet wants to enter the race, planning to wish for all the walls to be broken down, so everyone can live in presumed harmony.

After making it through several rounds of the race, there are only a few players left. They are treated to a macabre high school prom where they revert to their childish selves, dancing, spiking punch, and retreating to their cliques. This is the calm before the storm.

The final race day is here, and it appears Calypso (Anthony Carrigan) has a surprise in store. He has filled the stadium with people eager to see the drama unfold, cheering for their favorites. As it turns out, he has been televising the games this whole time for people to watch. They have been battling to the death for viewer amusement. It all stems back to Calypso’s attempt to get a reality show made. After being denied by the network, he went ahead and made his own.

The race involves crashing, smashing, shooting, and destroying until there’s only one car (and driver) left standing. This doesn’t necessarily mean everyone has to die. But it’s no-holds-barred in the stadium. Once a car is out of commission, the driver is no longer eligible to win, even if they somehow make it out alive.

A Winner Is Crowned

Stu talking to Sweet Tooth in Twisted Metal.

People are taken out one by one until there are only a few left, at which point Calypso brings in the “final boss,” his robotic killing machine that seems unbeatable. Sweet Tooth (Joe Seanoa, voiced by Will Arnett) and Mr. Grimm (Richard de Klerk) go at it until Sweet Tooth can no longer fight. But he isn’t dead. John is thrown from the vehicle, and Quiet and Mayhem (Saylor Bell Curda) rush to his side, protected by Axel (Michael James Shaw), who sacrifices himself. As it turns out, and as he realizes just prior, he’s the man who killed her family, then cared for her as a baby until she was stolen from him.

With Quiet’s vehicle obliterated, she might be out of the race, but at least she’s not dead. Calypso smiles maniacally, realizing that things went exactly as planned. Everyone died or can no longer race, and thus no one wins. He doesn’t have to grant a wish.

But not so fast. While Stu (Mike Mitchell) is grieving the death of Mike (Tahj Vaughans), he’s still very much alive, tucked away in the car in a corner where no one noticed. Stu wins the race, and Calypso is shocked. But a promise is a promise, so he agrees to grant him his wish. That is, after the stadium seats explode, killing and injuring many of the spectators as it comes crashing down.

As the winner, Stu wishes for him and Mike to be somewhere they will always be safe. His wish is granted, but not as he anticipated. He’s transported to a spaceship in the middle of space, Mike’s dead body hovering in the air along with him. Be careful what you wish for, and make sure to be precise in your wording, it seems.

The Short-Lived Stay at the Cabin Doesn’t Go As Planned

Quiet, John, and Mayhem standing by their car in Twisted Metal.

After using power from the vehicle to shock John’s heart, Quiet, Mayhem, and the now revived John step into Sweet Tooth’s truck and head off into the sunset. John hands Mayhem the drawing of the map to his family’s cabin that Krista made when they were kids and tells her to head north until she gets there, following the landmarks.

They arrive, and it’s a quaint little cabin. While John still doesn’t remember anything, it likely hasn’t changed since they were kids, remnants of his past all over. Together, the trio aims to start a new life there, enjoying the spoils of the supplies, the generator electricity, and the serene view of nature. They fish, cook, and act like parents with their teenage daughter.

It all seems too good to be true, and that’s because it is. While enjoying a lovely fish dinner, the TV crackles on and there’s Calypso. He set them up. While they were at prom, he had someone wear John’s clothing, including his signature vest. He made it look as though he and Quiet planted bombs and set up the explosion that killed innocent people.

Now, all the communities and settlements are on the hunt for them, believing them to be the bad guys. They might have time to escape, except Calypso already knows where they are. He has sent his final boss to finish the job. As they fight off this terrifying machine, John manages to remove the helmet to see that the final boss is a reincarnated version of Krista. He’s terrified, and though they manage to escape, he can’t bring himself to kill his sister. She glares at them from the cabin porch as they speed away.

In the middle of nowhere, with no idea what to do or how to proceed, John has a brilliant idea. The only way to stop this once and for all is to kill Calypso. So that is what they will set out to do.

The future of Twisted Metal remains up in the air with no official renewal yet from Peacock. But its fate is likely to be announced shortly after the finale airs. With more story to tell, fans hope there will be a renewal. Stay tuned.